Recent News & Updates

2023 elections and internet shutdowns watch
Governments around the world continue to shut down the internet during elections. Join our 2023 elections watch to #KeepItOn.

Weapons of control, shields of impunity: Internet shutdowns in 2022
Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition documented 187 internet shutdowns in 2022, across a record-setting 35 countries.

Technology for Democracy at the second U.S. Summit: an update on our progress

No to spyware: Biden administration bars U.S. federal government from using rights-abusing tech
In a significant victory for human rights, the U.S. is barring operational use of foreign or domestic commercial spyware by all federal agencies, unless they meet stringent requirements.

In Africa and the Middle East, internet shutdowns shroud human rights abuses
Access Now’s new joint report examines how authorities in Africa and the Middle East weaponize internet shutdowns to obscure human rights abuses.

TikTok Bans: Short-Sighted Solutions to the Wrong Problem

Shaping the next 20 years of digital rights in Europe
As we mark the 20th anniversary of EDRi, the European Digital Rights network, it’s an apt moment to reflect on the story of digital rights in Europe so far, and to ask the question: how can we better equip Europe for the human rights challenges of the digital age?

TikTok “Focused View” letter reply: open questions on privacy
TikTok’s response to Access Now’s ask to clarify how it applies EU laws and human rights safeguards when using this feature.

Privacy first: Ugandan court hears civil society’s human rights warnings on digital identity system
The High Court or Uganda has ruled to allow expert intervention from Access Now and partners on the human rights red flags around the country’s digital ID system.

Apagones de internet en América Latina y el Caribe: ataques a la libertad de expresión en Brasil y Cuba
En 2022, las autoridades bloquearon el internet en 35 países al menos 187 veces. Cuba y Brasil lo hicieron al menos tres veces en total.

President Museveni must veto Uganda’s repressive Anti-Homosexuality Bill
President Museveni must veto Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill and help safeguard the rights of LGBTQ+ people.

Sociedad civil exige la terminación de los acuerdos para el tratamiento transfronterizo de datos biométricos de personas migrantes
México, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador y Estados Unidos: terminen los acuerdos para el intercambio de biométricos de personas migrantes.

ضربة جديدة لحرية التعبير في تونس
من المفترض أن يحارب المرسوم عدد 54 في تونس الجرائم السيبرانية. عوضا عن ذلك، يهدد هذا المرسوم حرية التعبير ويقوض امبادئ الديمقراطية.

UNESCO’s guidelines for regulating digital platforms must center human rights for everyone, everywhere

Beyond Twitter: digital safety tips to navigate the Musk takeover
Things haven’t been going so well since Elon Musk took over Twitter. Here are digital safety tips to help keep yourself safe on the platform.

Content governance in times of crisis: how platforms can protect human rights
The “Declaration for content and platform governance principles in times of crisis” lays out principles for social media platforms to help ensure privacy, freedom of expression, and access to information during crises.

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Access Now is made up of a diverse team of more than 130 experts working in centers of political power, tech innovation, and civic action around the world. We have registered offices in Belgium, Costa Rica, Germany, Tunisia, and the United States, with team members based in more than 20 countries across six continents.